Woy Woy Little Theatre is set to present a tale of betrayal and coercive control with an intriguing mystery at its heart when The Girl on the Train opens at Peninsula Theatre on August 2.
Based on the popular 2015 debut novel by British author Paula Hawkins and the Dreamworks film, the play hurtles straight into action with Rachel waking up in her dingy kitchen surrounded by empty bottles of alcohol, still in her drab clothes from the previous day.
She has a gash on her head but is unable to recall how it happened, like many recent events in her tangled life.
Director Christine Vale, who is also president of the group, said when selecting what to produce each year, careful consideration is given to the mix of plays, comedies and dramas, well-known classics and contemporary scripts.
“So, we were delighted when a script for a stage play of the international best-selling book and film of The Girl on the Train was made available,” she said.
“It gave Woy Woy Little Theatre the exciting opportunity to bring to our audiences this modern classic through live theatre on the intimate stage at the Peninsula Theatre.
“This psychological thriller follows ‘the girl’, Rachel Watson, who watches people she sees from the train as she travels every day.
“She envies those she sees from the train and longs for the life she had before she divorced and spiralled into an alcoholic haze.
“When one of the people she watches every day goes missing, Rachel struggles to recall what happened but believes she knows something that can help solve the mystery.
“So a thrilling game of cat and mouse ensues as Rachel weaves her way through the lives of those around her and the missing woman”
Vale said bringing the production to the stage had been a real challenge for the actors.
“The pivotal role of Rachel has been embraced by Teanau Murphy, who navigates Rachel’s evolution with vulnerability and passion,” she said.
“The couple Rachel envies as she watches them from the train, Scott and Megan Hipwell, are portrayed by Scott Larimore and Kassandra Brown, who gradually reveal that the façade of a perfect life is not all it seems.
“As Kamal Abdik, Megan’s therapist, Terry Matthews brings a special calmness and sensitivity to his role.
“Continuing to support Rachel is her ex-husband, Tom Watson, played with tolerance and sympathy by Martin Pemberton.
“Often feeling threatened by Rachel’s erratic behaviour is Anna Watson, Tom’s new wife, played with defiance and defensiveness by Lucia Mandile.
“And, investigating all the leads in the mystery is Detective Gaskill, played with both empathy and decisiveness by Greg Buist.”
Vale said the production team had spent hours and hours preparing for the production.
“There are hundreds of sound and lighting cues handled with great aplomb by WWLT’s resident tech guru, Lloyd Grounds,” she said.
“And for this production, Lloyd’s talent also extends to being the composer of the tune for the Magpie song, which is beautifully sung by his granddaughter, Ava.
“As stage manager, Patrice Horne always has a wonderful eye for detail and the smooth running of a production, and once again she has been a stalwart of the production team.
“I’ve also been wonderfully supported by the multi-talented Graham Vale as assistant director, music composer, image sourcer and program designer.
“Finally, to fit with the contemporary nature of this play, set designer Steve Pembroke has reimagined the theme of ‘the train’ and used it to compare Rachel’s confusion about her life with the order and straight lines of railway tracks in the lives of others.”
The Girl on the Train opens at Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy, on Friday, August 2, with 10 performances over three weekends.
Book at woywoylt.com.au